Justin Bieber’s Middle Eastern Drama

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has canceled his meeting with pop sensation Justin Bieber over the teen singer’s refusal to meet with children living in communities affected by Gaza rocket fire, The Washington Postreports.

Bieber, who is currently touring the Holy Land and performing in Tel Aviv Thursday wanted “a personal experience,” so he requested to meet with the prime minister before his concert. However, Bieber declined an opportunity to meet children from communities affected by Gaza rocket fire earlier today, which then prompted the prime minister to cancel their Wednesday meeting. Bieber reportedly neglected to meet with the children because of the high-amount of Israeli paparazzi following him throughout the region that have forced him to stay in his hotel room as opposed to meeting with fans. In addition to his meeting with the prime minister, the pop star’s planned visits to Christian sites in the Galilee, the Dead Sea, Masada, and Acre and Casarea may also be postponed due to the paparazzi.

Bieber hinted at the controversy with Netanyahu and the press when he took to his Twitter and said, “You would think paparazzi would have some respect in holy places. All I wanted was the chance to walk where jesus did here in Israel.”